Fuel economizer



Feb. -1-, 1927.

P-. s. WEST FUEL EC ONOMI ZER Filed May 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 1 1 1927. R s. L; WEST FUEL ECONOMIZER Filed Mag, 1, 1926 {Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EY Patented Feb. 1, 19 27.

UNETE stares PETER s. 1.. WEST, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

* raisin? EUEL EoonoMIa 'EE.

I Application filed May 1,

Thisinvention relates to improvements in fuel econom zers. p

The prlmary ob ect of the invention resides in the utilization of the waste gases generated by the burning of fuel in furnaces, and aims to make use of the principle, thata difference in pressure will cause a flow as exemplified in every heating system whether electric or otherwise. This principle is utilized to carry out the operation of my invention, as the gases above mentioned are drawn from the fire box of a furnace and'pass through a system of pipes which gradually cool the gases for reducing their expansion and pressure, thus producing a difference of pressure between the gases in the dliferent pipes, after which the cooled gases pass into a carburetor for mixture with fresh oxygen or atmospheric air, and either gasoline or oil or both, to improve their efficiency and 1 quality,.the entire mixture is then forced back into the fire box under pressure or through natural suction induced by the difference of pressure in the pipes, for colrjningling with the burning fuel in the fire Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a maximum efliciency of a furnace may be maintained at a minimum fuel cost. With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of arts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and

are illustrated in the accompanying draw-' ing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic View of a furnace with my invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view therethrough Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the carburetor.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the carburetor with parts broken away.

v Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of a modified form of cooling pipe.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates the 192s. Serial No. 106,129.

fire box of a furnace, an d lla draft com partment which is disposed tlierebeneath and separat'ed'from the fire box by the usual grate 12 havingopenings 13 therein for the passage of a drafttherebetween.

The draft "apparatus comprises what I vertically adjacent the furnace proper and which is enclosed within a rectangular cas ing-15, but spaced from the walls thereof.

A stack 16 rises vertically beside the casing 15 and has communication with the main economizer pipe by suitably spaced pipes 17 in which are arranged valves 18 for efficiently controlling the escape of gases to the atmosphere. v I

' The main economizer pipe 14 receives the gases from the fire box and permits of the initial pressure expansion of the same, and which is connected with the fire box by a short pipe 19 having its free end provided with a plurality of spaced apertures or openings 20. A forced draft pipe 21 enters the pipe 19 centrally thereof'and which pipe is a branch from a high pressure steam pipe 22,,the flow of steam to the branch 21' being. controlled by a valve A sub-economizer pipe 24 leads from the their passage therethrough from the main economizer pipe to the carburetor. A regulatmg valve 27 is arranged within the pipe 24 for'controlling the flow of gases from the main economizer pipe to the carburetor.

The carburetor 25 is of a box-like construction and comprises a mixing chamber 28 beneath which a plurality ofspacedisw perposed perforated plates 29 are provided, the space between the plates serving as air chambers or pockets. Atmospheric air is admitted to the air chamber from the casing 15 by a regulating valve 30, and when the fresh air which is cooler thanthe air already within the mixing chamber, enters the same, the cooler air tends to drop and is trapped in the spaces between the perforated plates where it is subjected to the heat from the cooled gases in the mixing chamber which 7 are of a higher temperature than the fresh air. This serves to preheat the fresh air before mixture with the gases and assures a richer mixture.

For the purpose of forcing the mixture from the carburetor to the fire box for comingling with the combustible fuel, I provide steam ejectors 31, 31 31 31 and 31" which enter respective injector cones 32' disposed within the mixing chamber and which are connected with the main high pres sure steam pipe 22. Each steam jet is provided with a suitable control valve 33 for regulating the pressure of steam passing therethrough. I

- Should it be desired to enrich the mixture of combustible gases and atmospheric air, I provide a tankBt adapted to contain either gasoline or oil and from which suitable pipes 35 lead to the cones 32 of the ejectors 31 and 31- so that the oil or gas is sprayed within the mixing chamber by the high pressure steam for mixing wit-h the air. and gas therein. The flow of'oil or gas is induced or sucked from the tank into the carburetor by the'steam ejectors 31 and 31 and is controlled by valves 36.

A portion of the complete mixture within the mixing chamber is carried ofi through a pipe 37 which connects with the end ejector cone 32 and .to the underside of the grate,

and from which branch pipes 38v extend.-

The injector cones 31, 31 31 and 31 open directlyinto the fire box for injecting a proportionof the mixture directly into the fire box for burning with the fuel contained I therein.

The pipes 38 have suitable .open ings 39 therein for the escape of the mixture, which is forced through the grate openings by the following means. The. ejectors 31 to 31 force air, fuel gas and gasoline oroil mixture into the fire box to be burnt, while the pipe 21 forces a mixture of gas and air undert-he grate if necessary. when they are drawn by draft through the fire box. The ejector 31 provides. a forced draft for accelerating the movement of the gases through the body of the fire, economizer pipes, carburetor and ejector cones into the fire and vdoes not differ in. principle from the forced draft boiler apparatus except that the gases are returned to thefireinstead of being exhausted to the atmosphere.

Qpenings 4O areprovided in the casing 15 and which open intothe draft compartment 11 for normally supplying atmospheric air to the draft compartment for draft purposes. l

In operation, the waste gases pass from he fire box into the main economizer, and there receive their initial expansion, after which they pass to the sub-economizer pipe 24 and are further expanded and. gradually cool, thereby losing their pressure through contact with the ribs 26 of the sub-economizer pipe, after which they are expelled by the hotter and more powerful gases behind due to the difference in pressure, into the carburetor 25, wherein the gases are mixed with fresh heated oxygen which is admitted to the carburetor when the valve 30 is opened. As hereinbefore mentioned when it is desired toenrich the mixture, gasoline or oil is introduced into the mixing chamber from the tank 3 1 through the pipes 35. mixture can be forced from the cones 31, 31, 31 and 31 directly into the fire box, while a proportion of the mixture maybe drawn through the fire body if desired by the draft, through the cone 31 the pipe'37 and branches 38, for burning with, the fuel therein.

The lower air compartment in the carburetor has one of its side walls perforated as at 29' for the admission of atmospheric airand which is controlled by a sliding damper 40.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of cooling pipe in which the pipe is provided with a plurality of turns and sets ofribs tl, and the ribs of each set are spaced at various distances apart so that the gas in passing therethrough is gradually cooled. i

What is claimed as new is 1. In combination with a furnace having a fire box and a draft compartment disposed therebeneath and in communication therewith, induced means for'removing the gases of combustion produced by the burning of the fuel adapted to be contained within said fire-box, a mixing chamber, for receiving the said gases of combustiommeans for cool ing the gases of combustion in their passage from said fire-box to said mixing chamber, means for admitting and regulating atmospheric air into said mixing chamber of a normally lower temperature than the cooled gases, means for trapping the cooler atmospheric air below said mixing chamber for preheatingby the action of heat from said gases prior to its mixture with said gases,

and means for forcing the mixture fromsaid The mixing chamber to said draft compartment I and fire box for co-minghng with the fuel in said fire-box.

2. In combination with a furnace having a fire-box and a draft compartment disposed therebeneath and in communication therewith, induced means for removing the gases of combustion produced by the burning of the fuel adapted to be contained within said fire-box, a mixing chamber for receiving the said gases of combustion, means for cool ng the gases of combustion in their passage from said fire-box tosaid mixing chamber, means for admitting and regulating atmospheric air into said mixing chamber of a normally lower temperature than the cooled gases, means for trapping the cooler atmos- 11 said cooled gases and said preheated air, and

means for forcing the mixture from said mixing chamber to said draft compartment and fire box for co-mingling with the fuel in said fire box.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my slgnature.

PETER s. L. WEST. 

